Adam Smith, the father of economics, famously said that “every person lives by exchanging”. Truth be told, he actually said ‘man’, which I have replaced with ‘person’. If Smith were with us today – he died on July 17, 1790 – he would probably say that “every person lives by trading and exchanging information”. Information is today’s currency. So, where do you get your information, and at what cost?

In my experience, businesses tend to believe that, if there is any news that is important enough, it will find them – other parties will convey it to them. Quite simply, they will receive emails or newsletters, or they may even read the odd column, such as this one.

In view of the challenges associated with international trade, access to information is a key requirement. But it is not simply access to information that is important – the information must be useful and valuable. So, where does one find this information?

There are, off course, the obvious websites, both national and international. Nationally, the more useful ones are those of the South African Revenue Service, where one can get information on customs and excise; the South Africa government, where Government Gazettes are posted; the Department of Trade and Industry, which features valuable trade and industrial policy information; and the International Trade Administration Commission of South Africa, which provides up-to-date information on tariff and trade remedy applications.

As for the international websites, the more familiar ones are those of the World Trade Organisation (tariff and trade matters) and the World Customs Organisation (customs matters). There is another website that might not be that familiar, as it might well not be associated with international trade, as its name does not even elude to it. It is the website of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), an intergovernmental economic organisation that has 36 member countries and was founded in 1961 to stimulate economic progress and world trade.

What is also not well known is that the OECD has a webpage (www.oecd.org/trade) that is dedicated to trade. It is an unbelievable archive, a living and growing archive, of trade resources. When you visit the website, keep an eye out for the 16-page document, ‘OECD Work on Trade – Toward Better Trade Policies’, which contextualises all that you need to know about trade.

There is a section on ‘Understanding the global trading system’, which explains how trade works today and why open markets matter. It also highlights trade challenges and opportunities and discusses ways of making trade work for all.

‘How trade works today’ deals with issues such as where your traded goods come from and helps you understand how global trade works today and how it is different from what it used to be in the past. The ‘Why open markets matter’ subsection demonstrates that trade remains a driver of economic prosperity, and that it has lifted millions out of poverty over the years. It is highlighted under ‘Trade challenges and opportunities’ that trade and market openness go hand in hand with better economic performance, but there are concerns that the current trading system is not working as it should. As the ‘Making trade work for all’ makes it clear, only a more modern, comprehensive and coherent package of trade, domestic and international policies can help trade contribute to better the lives of more people.

There is also a section on key topics, which include agricultural trade, aid for trade, digital trade, export credits, fossil fuel subsidies, global value chains and trade, government procurement, levelling the playing field, local content requirements, the METRO trade model, regional trade agreements, nontariff measures, international trade and balance of payment statistics, services trade, small and medium-sized enterprises and trade, trade and the environment, trade and gender, trade and investment, trade and jobs, trade facilitation, and trade in raw materials.

The final section implores visitors to the site to ‘Read our books’, ‘Download papers’ and ‘Access our data’.

This is a truly invaluable resource, which will provide you with an array of relevant and practical information. It is arguably one of the best kept secrets. Why wait? Get to work on trade.